{"id":432,"date":"2024-06-03T21:12:15","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T21:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/networkprocurement.net\/?p=432"},"modified":"2024-06-14T16:09:49","modified_gmt":"2024-06-14T16:09:49","slug":"why-do-baby-rabbits-die-suddenly-13-vet-verified-reasons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/networkprocurement.net\/index.php\/2024\/06\/03\/why-do-baby-rabbits-die-suddenly-13-vet-verified-reasons\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Baby Rabbits Die Suddenly? 13 Vet-Verified Reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Losing a pet is something all pet owners will eventually have to go through, and it’s always a heartbreaking time for everyone. Losing a pet before their time while they’re young and healthy is even more shocking, especially if it is a surprise. Baby rabbits are cute and fluffy, but they\u2019re also fragile creatures susceptible to many dangers and things that could cause them to die suddenly<\/strong>. This article looks at why baby rabbits die suddenly and how you can help protect them against sudden death.<\/p>\n

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The 13 Reasons Why Baby Rabbits Die Suddenly<\/h2>\n

1.<\/span> Physical Trauma<\/h3>\n

Rabbits are very fragile at any age, but newborns (neonatal) and young rabbits are particularly delicate. Many baby rabbits can die from external or internal injuries caused by falls, having things fall on them, being held too roughly, and even being hurt by their mothers. Does (female rabbit mothers) that are younger, inexperienced, and have only had one pregnancy all have a higher risk of accidentally hurting their babies.<\/p>\n

Something as simple as a mom thumping her feet in annoyance can crush baby rabbits, and careless movement in the nest can cause internal injuries to even slightly older baby rabbits.<\/p>\n

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Image Credit: Raman Saurei, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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2.<\/span> Cannibalism<\/h3>\n

Another unfortunate turn of events for a mother rabbit and her babies is cannibalism. Does can eat their own babies when they are stressed; this stress can be from a large event such as a party or unfamiliar people going into her nest box, but it can also be from something as simple as a predator (like a dog) or other animals meandering past her cage, especially soon after she has given birth. An insufficient diet can also cause mother rabbits to cannibalize their young; a diet deficient in calories or nutrients or lacking drinking water can cause her to turn on her own kits.<\/p>\n

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3.<\/span> Infection<\/h3>\n

Baby rabbits are susceptible to infections as their immune systems are not yet fully developed, similar to other pets of the same age. Gastrointestinal infections are particularly dangerous to baby rabbits, as a baby rabbit who develops diarrhea will dehydrate incredibly quickly.<\/p>\n

A condition called mucoid enteropathy is a common cause of baby rabbit deaths, and it shows as a large amount of jelly-like diarrhea that’s full of mucus.1<\/sup><\/a> <\/span>The causes of mucoid enteropathy are thought to be bacterial, imbalance in the cecum or environmental, but they aren’t entirely known. Baby rabbits are also susceptible to colibacillosis, a disease caused by an infection of E.coli<\/em> bacteria.<\/p>\n

In non-weaned rabbits (1 to 2 weeks old), it causes yellow diarrhea. In weaned rabbits over 4 weeks old, it causes green-brown diarrhea and fluid-filled intestines. This infection can kill rabbits that appear healthy within 48 hours.<\/p>\n

Baby rabbits can also be prone to viral infections and parasitic infestations, particularly coccidiosis and protozoan cryptosporidiosis.2<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

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4.<\/span> Congenital Diseases<\/h3>\n

Congenital diseases can also be the cause of sudden death in baby rabbits. Congenital diseases are diseases and malformations inherited through genes from the parent rabbits to the baby, and the most common of these is malocclusion of the incisors seen in dwarf rabbits. This is not immediately obvious in very young kits but will lead to dental issues as they grow up. Congenital heart defects, such as ventricular septal defects, can cause sudden death in baby rabbits, and rabbits are very good at hiding signs of illness and pain.3<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

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Image Credit: QBR, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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5.<\/span> Hypothermia<\/h3>\n

Baby rabbits are tiny and are at risk from hypothermia if their environment isn’t managed correctly, or if they are ill. It is a significant risk for young rabbits kept outside, as the temperatures are often much less regulated than they are for inside rabbits. Baby rabbits are hypothermic if their temperature drops below 100.4\u00b0F, which is the lowest end of the normal range of temperatures.<\/p>\n

Hairless, non-weaned rabbits are the most at risk of hypothermia, as they have no hair to help keep them warm. However, even adult rabbits can succumb to being too cold if they’re kept outside in freezing temperatures, or they are sick, so keep an eye on the temperature so you can keep your baby rabbit warm.<\/p>\n

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Signs of hypothermia include:<\/div>\n
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